In 2018, after the Washington Capitals won their first-ever Stanley Cup, Alex Ovechkin and several of his teammates took a dip in a Georgetown fountain to celebrate the victory. That was what Capitals winger TJ Oshie was reminded of last Sunday when the Russian veteran took a dive onto the UBS Arena ice with his arms extended on either side. “I’m not trademarking it right now, but it was a fountain-esque dive that he did there over the blue line,” said Oshie, while Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky also lauded the No. 8’s technique. And now, it looks like Caps fans can forever hold on to the special moment in a unique way.

Following the iconic celebration, which Ovechkin maintains was an accident, the game was paused with the Capitals trailing the Islanders 2-1. His family, Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and “The Great One” himself were invited to the center rink to offer their congratulations to the Russian for doing what he himself had thought to be impossible even a few years ago. But as memorable as the celebration and Ovechkin’s speech were, it happened away from home. So it’s only natural for Washington fans to get an opportunity to honor and celebrate their captain at the Capital One Arena. So now, as Spencer Carbery’s boys return to action on home ice for the first time since Sunday, his now-iconic belly flop gets a special shout-out from the Capitals’ camp.

AP Hockey writer Stephen Whyno posted on X on April 10 to share the special gift that awaits Washington fans at the Capital One Arena as Alex Ovechkin and the squad gear up to lock horns with the Hurricanes. “#allcapsfans tonight will get this GR8NESS Alex Ovechkin rally towel featuring his now famous belly flop celebration,” the social media update reveals, as the accompanying image shows the towels are already neatly placed on the seats and waiting to be picked up and admired by the home fans. 

With the caption “GR8NESS”, these towels will pay homage to Ovechkin’s “Gr8 Chase” in a truly sonorous manner. But wait! That’s not the only way the Eastern Conference powerhouse will be nodding its hat to their emphatic captain and his seminal career moment. Fans traveling to the Caps’ home turf for Thursday’s game can also get themselves a Bud Light, all for $8.95! The Capitals have already qualified for the 2025 playoffs with 107 points to their name, but this could easily be the most memorable can of beer Washington fans can have in a long time, especially considering what it represents for the entire camp!

But it wasn’t just the fans who got something special to welcome the team back to DC. Before the game against Carolina, Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis, the Capitals’ president of hockey operations, Brian McLellan, and Alex Ovechkin’s teammates showered him with special gifts to once again note their jubilation at being part of his incredible journey to surpass Wayne Gretzky. These gifts included a special engraved hockey stick (mini ones for Alex’s two sons), Rolex watches, and commemorative flower bouquets. Alex’s family was also there to celebrate with him.

But the most memorable gift was probably the concrete sculpture of Ovechkin, which also included his hockey stick and his signature yellow lace boots. To make things even more special, two former Washington stars and Alex’s national teammates, Alexander Semin and Ilya Kovalchuk, also showed up to revel in the former’s glory.

Along with these, a video tribute was also broadcast via the arena’s giant screen to show the Washington fans’ heaving emotions at seeing their captain rewrite history. However, while the Capitals are going overboard in celebrating the life and legacy of Ovechkin, fans think their competitors are simply looking at the Moscow native’s achievements as a way to line their own pockets.

Fans expected to pay a premium for Alex Ovechkin souvenir

For any fan, it’s always a pleasure to watch something that redefines their favorite sport. And if they can own a piece of that history, even better! That’s exactly what many fans thought they were going to get when they bought tickets to last Sunday’s Islanders vs Capitals match. Unsurprisingly, Alex Ovechkin didn’t disappoint. In the second period of the game, the much-awaited time finally came, and the Washington winger cemented his position on the top of the NHL food chain. But when Islanders fans wanted to print those tickets, they weren’t really in for a treat.

New York charged $45 to print the digital tickets, and fans were having none of it. Reminding how the Capitals printed digital tickets for free when Alex went past Gordie Howe’s record, many Washington fans noted their frustration at the Islanders’s attempt to make a profit off of Ovechkin’s success. However, considering how this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the hockey community, it’s also understandable why the Metropolitan Division team sought to make the most of the opportunity at hand.

However, things are far from over for Capitals fans. With the team qualifying for the playoffs already, they’re bracing themselves with the hope to see if the squad can make the year even more memorable for the community. Do you think that Coach Carbery can guide the team to glory and make Alex Ovechkin’s record even sweeter? Tell us in a comment!